Alastair Cook had criticised incoming England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Colin Graves – a Yorkshireman – for calling West Indies “mediocre” in the build-up to the recent Test series, claiming it gave England’s opponents plenty of ammunition to beat them.

He added Yorkshiremen are “happy to talk a good game” – something which prompted an angry response from Boycott.

The Fitzwilliam-born commentator, who wears his white rose on his sleeve, accused the England captain of thinking he is “untouchable”, plus said it was “disrespectful and out of order” to have a go at Yorkshiremen.

A cricket fan on Twitter wrote: “Yorkshire would beat England at the moment!”

Boycott wrote back listing the reigning County Championship Division One champions’ line-up.